Both Cowichan LMG and the Cowichan 49ers will be well-represented on Vancouver Island Soccer League all-star teams this coming weekend.
LMG has had three players named to the Div. 1 all-star roster and the 49ers have had seven selections to the masters lineup as the VISL teams will take on squads representing the Fraser Valley Soccer League at Victoria’s Layritz Park on Saturday.
Defending Goalie of the Year Darian Achurch will be joined by defender Colin Knight and veteran forward Steve Scott on the VISL Div. 1 team.
The VISL masters team will include Cowichan 49ers goalkeeper Chris Muller, defenders Tyler Hughes and Adam Taft, midfielders George Thomas and Ryan Fusick, and forwards Darcy Penner and Neall Rowlings.
Player-manager Rowlings was a late but deserving addition to the team. His seven goals are third on the 49ers behind Penner’s nine and Stu Barker’s eight.
“I know they asked some of the [Cowichan] Steelheads and other teams, as I eagerly took the spare spot when they all declined,” he kidded.
UVic Alumni, which sits just ahead of the second-place 49ers in the masters A standings, will also have seven players on the squad, including former Niners goalkeeper Rob McIntyre. Cowichan’s Kevin James and UVic’s Moreno Stefani will share the coaching duties.
The VISL Div. 1 team defeated the FVSL Premier Division all-stars in the 2019 match, and the FVSL masters team prevailed in a shootout.
“The games should be a lot of fun,” Rowlings said. “It’s about building the sport with some healthy competition and we hope some of our fans will make the trip across the Malahat. The VISL puts a lot of time into making this event a success and we want to continue to support it.”
The masters game will go at 2:30 on Saturday, followed by the Div. 1/Premier contest at 4:30 p.m.